June 25 Crop Progress and Condition Report

More Heat, Crop Stress for Nebraska

Agricultural  Summary: 
For  the  week  ending  June  24,  2012,  above  normal  temperatures  continued  with limited  precipitation  across  central  and  western  areas increasing  drought  severity  and  stressing  dryland  crops  and pastures, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.  Corn has begun  to pollinate in  the Southeast as wheat harvest moved westward across  the state.    Producers were  actively  irrigating  row  crops  to  offset the  hot  and  dry  conditions  affecting  the  state.   However, significant rain fall totals were recorded in the eastern third of the state.   Areas of  the Panhandle had some replanting of dry beans  due  to  hail  damage  and  grasshoppers  were  also  a concern.  Pastures  were  showing  little  growth  and supplemental feeding of livestock was taking place in portions of the state.   
 
Weather  Summary:  
Temperatures  averaged  3  degrees above  normal  in  the Panhandle  and  southern  tier  of  counties while  the  central  and  northern  districts  averaged  1  degree above  normal.   Highs  reached  triple digits  in  portions  of  the west and mainly 90’s elsewhere.   Lows were in  the mid 40’s.  Largest amounts of rain fell in the East Central and Southeast Districts with  some areas  receiving over 2  inches.   However, precipitation totals diminished moving west across the state.  Topsoil Moisture (%):  Very Short  21, Short   43, Adequate  36, Surplus   0.  Subsoil Moisture (%):  Very Short  20,  Short  49, Adequate  31, Surplus    0.  GDD since April 15 (vs. normal):  Concord 1092  (1015),  Elgin 1050  (991),  West Point 1117  (1053),  Mead 1200  (1086).  Rainfall totals in inches by district since April 1 (% of normal):  NE 9.28 (94%),  EC 10.52 (103%),  SE  9.78 (94%). 
 
Field Crops Report:
Corn silked was 5 percent, compared to 0  last year and average. Corn conditions  rated 1 percent very poor,  8  poor,  31  fair,  52  good,  and  8  excellent,  below  last year’s 78 percent good  to excellent and 79 average.  Irrigated corn conditions rated 69 percent good to excellent and dryland corn rated 45.

Soybeans blooming were 12 percent, ahead of 0  last year and 1  average.   Soybean  conditions  rated  1  percent  very  poor,  9  poor,  33  fair,  51  good,  and  6  excellent,  below  last  year’s  80 percent good to excellent and 79 average.

Sorghum  emerged was 98 percent,  ahead of 94  last year  and 90  average.   Sorghum  conditions  rated  1  percent  very  poor,  11 poor,  36  fair,  49 good,  and  3  excellent, below  last  year’s    78  percent good to excellent and 74 average.

Wheat  turning  color  reached  99  percent,  well  ahead  of  44  last  year  and  59  average.  Wheat  ripe  was  64  percent, compared  to  5  last  year  and  average.   Wheat  harvested was  32  percent,  compared  to  0  last  year  and  average.    Wheat conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 16 poor, 40 fair, 37 good, and 3 excellent, well below 56 percent good  to excellent  last year and 63 average.  

Oats  headed was  97  percent, well  ahead  of  74  last  year  and  12 days ahead of 79 average.   Oats harvested was 15 percent, compared  to  0  last  year  and  average.   Oats  conditions  rated  1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 35 fair, 58 good, and 1 excellent, below 85 percent good to excellent last year and 84 average.

The  second  cutting  of  alfalfa was  67  percent  complete, well ahead  of  4  last  year  and  5  average.   Alfalfa  rated  7  percent very  poor,  22  poor,  38  fair,  30  good,  and  3  excellent,  well below 82 percent good to excellent last year and 74 average.    Wild  hay  harvest was  30  percent  complete,  ahead  of  15  last year and 5 average.  Wild hay conditions rated 7 percent very poor,  12  poor,  31  fair,  50  good,  and  0  excellent,  below  last year’s 75 percent good to excellent.
 
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and  range conditions  rated  13  percent  very  poor,  30  poor,  37  fair,  20  good,  and  0  excellent,  well  below  81  percent  good  to excellent last year and 80 average.  



Current Weather & Crops County Comments
Survey Date: 06/24/2012

BOONE
A small amount of rain fell Friday night bringing a little relief but producers are still irrigating in earnest.

DIXON
Some light rain through the week has given growing crops relief from the heat and high winds. Pastures have been behind all year with a shortage of subsoil moisture. Livestock producers continue to make adjustments to the situation.

DODGE
The County received rains late last week and early this week. Some received very little while other areas received several inches. It helped the crops and pastures.

DOUGLAS
Lots of rain keeps coming and I hope it continues.

GAGE
Rain has helped hold the crop together, brome pastures will green up but produce little extra forage until fall. Native pastures look to be about 70% of normal. Will still need to drylot quite a few cows this summer.

KNOX
Conditions continue to be very dry. Many pastures have gone to dormancy due to lack of rain. Crops continue to hang in there but need moisture badly.

MADISON
All crops being affected by the continuing dry conditions. Currently moisture levels are averaging 75% of normal, however, the total includes some very heavy rains that did not significantly benefit the crops. Dryland crops on lighter soils are being affected with potential yields being seriously cut.

MERRICK
High winds early Saturday morning. Green snap on corn reported.

NEMAHA
Rains have provided some relief for the crops and pastures but much more is needed.

RICHARDSON
We have received some nice rains in the eastern part of the county. The western part of the county is still pretty dry.



Click here for the latest national progress numbers....  http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-06-25-2012.txt



Iowa Crop Conditions Improve Slightly, More Rain Needed

Even with most of the State receiving rain this past week, there are areas  still  in  need  of moisture.  Conditions  for  all  crops  improved slightly  for  the  week.  Spraying  was  limited  as  windy  conditions prevailed most of the week. 

There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the past week.  Topsoil  moisture  levels  rated  14  percent  very  short, 40 percent  short,  45  percent  adequate,  and  1  percent  surplus. East Central  Iowa  is  the  driest with  78  percent  of  the  topsoil moisture rated  short  to  very  short.  Subsoil moisture  rated  16  percent  very short, 44 percent short, 39 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

Corn silking has been reported in every district of   the State except North  Central  Iowa.  Corn  condition  is  reported  at  2  percent  very poor,  6  percent  poor,  24  percent  fair,  52  percent  good,  and 16 percent  excellent. 

Eight  percent  of  the  State’s  soybean  crop  is blooming,  with  Central  and  South  Central  Iowa  leading  the  way with  11  percent.  Soybean  condition  is  rated  2  percent  very  poor, 8 percent  poor,  27  percent  fair,  51  percent  good,  and  12  percent excellent.

Ninety-eight  percent  of  the  oat  crop  has  headed,  nearly three weeks ahead of normal. Thirty-five percent of the oat crop has turned  color, well  ahead  of  last  year’s  three  percent  and  the  five-year  average  of  seven  percent.  Iowa’s  farmers  have  started  to harvest  oat  in  each  district  of  the  State.  Oat  condition  is  rated 2 percent  very  poor,  6  percent  poor,  29  percent  fair,  54  percent good, and 9 percent excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay, at 54  percent  complete,  is  almost  three weeks  ahead  of  normal. Hay condition  is  rated 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.

For  the  third  straight  week,  less  than  half  of  Iowa’s  pasture  and range land is rated in good to excellent condition. Pasture and range condition rated 6 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 38 percent fair,  33  percent  good,  and  4  percent  excellent.  Moderate  conditions continue to be favorable for livestock.